Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change in South Carolina
Preparing coastal communities for sea-level rise and other negative effects of climate change is a necessary effort.
The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium works with communities and stakeholders to assess the threats to our coastal areas and increase resilience to coming changes. Contact our Coastal Climate and Resilience program specialists for more information.
Research Reports
Town of Edisto Beach Flooding and Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment (2022)
The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and partners assessed Edisto Beach’s vulnerability to flooding and sea level rise using a variety of methods. The project team developed a high-resolution flood model to assess vulnerability to properties and roads and conducted workshops with town staff and residents to describe current challenges and experiences with flooding.
Sea Level Rise Adaptation Report for Beaufort County, South Carolina (2015)
Beaufort County is a low-lying coastal county with a high vulnerability to flooding and other coastal hazards. Much of the County consists of islands that rely on causeways and bridges for transportation, infrastructure connections, and storm evacuations. Residents have already noticed the effects of rising sea levels; however, the County is finding it difficult to effectively plan given the compounding uncertainties about sea-level rise and its consequences on the human environment.
Assessing the Impact of Saltwater Intrusion in the Carolinas under Future Climatic and Sea Level Conditions (2012)
Scientists investigated the threat of saltwater intrusion in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River basin under conditions influenced by ongoing and future climatic change with an emphasis on changes in the frequency and duration of saltwater intrusion events with increasing sea levels.
Community Resilience
Our Coastal Future Forum
The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, with other partners, facilitated a deliberative discussion to bridge the sometimes opposing opinions on environmental issues facing coastal South Carolinians. The forum brought together residents, natural resource managers, scientists and government officials in a supportive setting to discuss the future of coastal South Carolina.
Charleston Resilience Network
CRN is a collaboration of public, private, and non-profit organizations in the Charleston, S.C. region. The group works to create a unified regional strategy and provide a forum to share science-based information, educate stakeholders, and enhance long-term planning decisions to make the community more adaptable in the face of hazards.
